Bulls show interest in forward Harpring

The Bulls' interest in Matt Harpring has intensified to the point that the free agent small forward was brought in to visit the city and the Berto Center practice facility earlier this week.

Harpring, who started 81 games last season with Philadelphia, is said to have been impressed on the visit. But if the Bulls want to sign Harpring, they might need to act fast.

Atlanta, Miami and Utah also have shown interest in the 6-foot-7-inch, 231-pounder, who is an unrestricted free agent after Philadelphia pulled its $2.4 million qualifying offer. Harpring, who lives in Atlanta, was wooed personally by one team there this week.

The Bulls likely wouldn't sign Harpring unless they could move Eddie Robinson, whose deal will pay him $5.687 million this season. Moving a contract that has $26 million remaining on it is difficult, leaving the Harpring situation in somewhat of a holding pattern.

General manager Jerry Krause also hopes to work out a sign-and-trade with Travis Best.

With Corie Blount signed, the Bulls also are contemplating signing a veteran point guard. Former Bull Kevin Ollie, sent to Indiana in last February's Jalen Rose trade, is the latest name to surface.

Indiana has expressed interest in re-signing Ollie and recently made him an offer, but the five-year veteran is open to other proposals.

Take a break: Guard Jamal Crawford skipped Rose's charity game last weekend because of tendinitis in his knee. Luckily for Crawford and the Bulls, the tendinitis is in his right knee and not the left one that was surgically repaired last season. The condition forced Crawford's minutes to drop during the team's final three summer league games.